The first trimester coming to an end doesn’t only mean students rushing to study for tests and teachers submitting grades for report cards. It also means preparation has begun for winter sports. It is not uncommon to hear the word “basketball” fill the Upper School halls and walk past Stuart girls training in the weight room for indoor track. Although Stuart’s winter sports season may be filled with the least amount of sports, it arguably has the largest presence in the Upper School because of the infamous coaches who led our two programs. Coach Bowman is the head coach of our basketball team and has been working at Stuart for numerous years, with a quick pause, but happily returned to our basketball program during his retirement. Coach Dura is the head coach of the indoor track team and works tirelessly to prepare them for their meets. Stuart students across all grades in ninth through twelfth are excited and anxiously awaiting the beginning of winter sports.
The largest winter sports team is the basketball team without a doubt. They may only have a varsity, but it is well-sized and filled with a talented roster. Returning seniors Taylor States, Leila Hernandez Lewis, and Abby Chirik have been members of the team since their freshman year and look forward to their success this season. Leila Hernandez-Lewis stated, “I am so excited to start running every day after school and leave school later after rewarding practices.” Enthusiasm is not only rampant in the senior class, but also in the class of 2027. Junior Betsy Murphy excitedly claimed, “I’m looking forward to bonding with my teammates.” Although the team has a strong number of returning players, its secret power lies within the new players joining the squad this year. There are plenty of freshmen and sophomores who can’t wait to get their shoes on that court and begin practice. Basketball practice is demanding, but filled with drills and enrichment that better prepares players.
The basketball season is not only about the demanding and high-functioning practices, but also the team camaraderie. The wonderful community within the basketball team and relationships built on the court are long-lasting. Some of the fondest memories recounted from players are long conversations on bus rides to games, grabbing dinner after an away game, or team bonding during the Sacred Heart basketball tournament. It is not rare to see the team trucking off to a bus after school to attend an away game, but not many people understand what happens on these bus rides. It starts with Coach Bowman and assistant Coach Roberts talking to the girls on the bus and debriefing them on everything they need to know before the game. Then the girls are able to have relaxed conversations with one another and build their relationships. Bus trips are filled with laughter, strategy, and connection.
All of this work and community building amounts to greatness through success in games. Our basketball team works tirelessly running up and down the court during games to secure wins for this program and push to playoffs. Last year Stuart’s basketball program had a plethora of difficult games where they were able to walk away with a win. The team successfully made it to the NJSIAA State Tournament where they did well in the first round and unfortunately lost to Wildwood Catholic in the quarterfinals. Our Stuart players are hungrily looking towards their new season and hoping to end the winter months with a state title.
The athletics program urges all students, faculty, parents, and alums to come out to games and support our players. Let’s rally together to do our part in assisting the basketball program achieve success this season!
